Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Texas

Is it legal for an apartment complex to not allow me to move in until I pay off a 6 year old utility bill that was sold to a 3rd party collections agency 5 years ago?

I have been approved for the apartment but they are just requiring me to pay this off before I can move in. They have declined to provide me anything in writing outlining this policy. I have an excellent rental history for the past 3 years. I exceed their income requirements. And I am in good standing and up to date with all current utilities and other bills.

The statute of limitations is 4 years in my state. I contacted the utilities company to try to pay it off and they said the debt had been sold 5 years ago to a private 3rd party collections agency. I understand that settling with the collections agency may actually have more of a negative impact on my credit, and I don't see how an apartment complex can require me to do this.


Asked on 9/13/12, 11:48 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mark Dunn Mark D. Dunn

Your remedy is to rent an apartment somewhere else. Forget these people. Do you really want to do business with them for the next 12 months?

If you walk away, they can't "require" you to do anything. Tell them to go to hell. The loudest sound in the world is that of a cash register not opening.

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Answered on 9/15/12, 4:52 am


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